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Illustrations: AI-generated images are used in this guide.
Velvet bows Christmas is the fastest upgrade of 2026: use a few large velvet bows, not many small ones, in one colour that matches your ornaments. Wire the tails into the branches so they stay put, and repeat the same velvet bows Christmas look on the wreath and garland.
Last updated: 3 November 2026
In this guide — 9 sections
Most velvet bows fail for three small reasons: they are too small for the tree, they are glued or clipped so they fall off by New Year, or their colour matches nothing else in the room. A bow is not a finishing touch you add at the end. It is a colour and texture decision you make first, like the ribbon in the Jewel-Tone guide.
Illustration: AI-generated image for this guide.
Velvet Bows Christmas Size Rule (this is the whole trend)
Small tree (under 5 ft): bows 4-5 inches wide, 5-7 bows total. Medium tree (6-7 ft): bows 6-8 inches wide, 9-12 bows total. Large tree (8 ft+): bows 8-10 inches wide, 12-15 bows total.
Rule: fewer, larger bows beat many tiny bows. Tiny bows on a big tree disappear; one oversized bow on a small tree takes over. Cluster in odd numbers (3 or 5) in each section, not evenly spaced like soldiers.
Where to put them (one colour, five places)
Tree first, then repeat the SAME colour and ribbon on: the wreath, the garland, the stair railing, and gift wrapping. One bow colour carried through the house is what makes the look designer instead of random. Dining chairs get a bow only if the room is already in the same palette — otherwise skip them.
Burgundy Velvet Ribbon: The Colour Everyone Starts With
If you buy one roll of velvet ribbon this year, make it burgundy. It is the colour searches start with, the colour that flatters the most trees — green, flocked or white — and the one that pairs with both gold and silver without arguing. This section is about choosing and using the ribbon; if you want the tested sets and rolls themselves, they are compared in our roundup of velvet bows for a Christmas tree.
Burgundy bows for Christmas tree: wired or unwired?
For bows, wired — always. A burgundy velvet bow holds its loops because of the wire in its edges; unwired burgundy ribbon is for wrapping and swags, where draping is the point. Width follows the size rule above: 2.5 inches is the versatile roll (bows, garland, wreath), 4 inches is for oversized statement bows only.
One roll, three jobs is the economical pattern: cut lengths for the tree bows first, use the offcuts on the wreath and garland, and keep a metre back for gift wrapping in the same colour. Bought as separate pre-made pieces, the same burgundy runs out of match — dye lots differ, and a near-burgundy bow next to the real one reads as a mistake.
How to Make (and Tie) Velvet Bows for a Christmas Tree That Stay Put
1. Use wired velvet ribbon — unwired ribbon goes flat in a day.
2. Make two loops, pinch the centre, and wrap wire (not glue) around the middle.
3. Leave two tails, cut them at an angle, and pull the loops open until the bow looks full from the front.
4. Attach with the wire: twist it around the branch, not around an ornament hook. A bow clipped to an ornament falls with the ornament.
5. Fluff last, after the bow is on the tree — fluffing before attaching wastes the shape.
Illustration: AI-generated image for this guide.
Comparison: velvet vs satin vs linen
| Ribbon | Look | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velvet | Soft, matte, expensive | Trees, wreaths, garlands — the 2026 look | Needs wired ribbon, otherwise it flops |
| Satin | Shiny, smooth | Gift wrapping, chairs | Shine fights matte ornaments; use sparingly on the tree |
| Linen | Textured, rustic | Farmhouse / natural trees | Stiffer to tie; bows look smaller than velvet at the same width |
Velvet Bows Christmas Colour Matching
Burgundy, forest green, champagne and cream are the safest velvet colours — they match the jewel-tone palettes in the Jewel-Tone Christmas Tree guide. If your tree is already emerald and burgundy, use burgundy bows, not a fifth colour. If your tree is gold and cream, use champagne bows.
Pair the bows with velvet christmas ornaments for a fuller, softer tree.
Illustration: AI-generated image for this guide.
What NOT to buy
Do not buy shiny plastic ribbon and call it velvet — it photographs badly and looks cheap next to real velvet. Do not buy a dozen tiny bows for a 7-ft tree — buy fewer, larger ones. Do not glue bows to branches — glue damages the tree and the bow cannot be reused next year. Do not buy glass ornaments just because a trend photo shows them — use shatterproof finishes in the same colours (same look, no breakage).
Velvet bows look best on good greenery. Tie your bows on these winter wreaths and unlit garlands — the wreath, the mantel garland and the stair garland are the five places this guide talks about.
Ready to buy? Our velvet bows buying guide compares 9 ready-made sets and ribbon rolls — burgundy first — with sizes and the count your tree needs.
Shop This Look
- YNYLCHMX 20″ Winter Wreath — A mid-size wreath for the front door or above the mantel. Check price Opens on Amazon
- Arborus Winter Set (24″ wreath + 6-ft unlit garland + 30″ swag) — A matched wreath, garland and swag in one box. Check price Opens on Amazon
- homchy 18FT Real Touch Norfolk Pine Garland, unlit (2 x 9FT) — Two 9-ft lengths of unlit garland — enough for a mantel and a stair rail. Check price Opens on Amazon
- ENVEN Faux Norfolk Pine Garland, unlit (6FT, 2-pack) — Two 6-ft lengths of unlit garland for shorter runs. Check price Opens on Amazon
- Afloral Real Touch Deluxe Norfolk Pine Garland 96″, unlit — A single 96-inch real-touch length for a statement mantel. Check price Opens on Amazon
These are the greenery pieces from PaxmaHub’s Winter Wreaths & Garlands picks. For the velvet bows themselves, our velvet bows buying guide compares 9 ready-made sets and ribbon rolls, burgundy first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are velvet bows really the 2026 Christmas trend?
Velvet bows Christmas is the 2026 trend where oversized velvet bows are used on trees, wreaths and garlands, in burgundy, forest green, champagne and cream, as the fastest way to make a tree look designer.
How many velvet bows do I need for a Christmas tree?
A 6-7 ft tree needs 9-12 bows, 6-8 inches wide. Fewer, larger bows beat many tiny ones, clustered in odd numbers in each section.
How do I make a velvet bow stay on the tree?
Use wired ribbon, wrap wire around the centre, and twist that wire around the branch. Glue and ornament-hook clips fall off; wire holds all season and lets you reuse the bow.
What colour velvet bow goes with a jewel-tone tree?
Match the bow to a colour already on the tree — burgundy bows for an emerald and burgundy tree, champagne for a gold and cream tree. Never add a fifth colour as a bow.
Can I use velvet bows on a wreath and garland too?
Yes, and you should — the same colour and ribbon on the wreath and garland is what carries the tree’s look through the room. Use smaller bows there than on the tree.
Are bows on Christmas trees in style?
Yes — they are the lead Christmas tree trend of 2026, with velvet the most-used material. The current version is a few oversized bows in one colour, not the small evenly-spaced bows of older trees.
What are the different styles of Christmas tree bows?
Four styles cover most trees: oversized statement bows (one colour, 6-10 inches), classic loop bows, long trailing-tail bows that hang down the branch, and a single large topper bow in place of a star or angel.
How to place Christmas tree bows?
Work in odd-numbered clusters of 3 or 5, starting in the top third of the tree where they are seen first, and step back after each cluster. Even spacing makes bows look like ornaments; clusters make them look styled.
Where can I find velvet Christmas tree bows?
Ready-made velvet bow sets and ribbon rolls are sold on Amazon and craft stores; the sets worth buying — burgundy first — are compared with sizes and prices in our velvet bows roundup. One roll of wired ribbon plus the steps above is the DIY alternative.
More ideas: see our Christmas Decor & Ideas pins on Pinterest for velvet bows Christmas inspiration.
The Bottom Line
Velvet bows Christmas works because it is a texture change, not a shopping list: one ribbon, one colour, repeated in the right sizes, makes an ordinary tree look intentional — and the bows come back out of the box next year, ready to use again.
Ready to buy? Our velvet bows buying guide compares the sets and ribbon rolls, burgundy first.
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More Christmas Guides
Velvet Bows for Christmas Tree: 9 Best SetsThe buying guide — ready-made sets and rolls compared, burgundy first.
Jewel-Tone Christmas TreeThe palette these bows belong to — two or three colours, done properly.
Vintage Christmas DecorationsEra-by-era ideas and the best vintage-look picks for 2026.
Burgundy Velvet Tree SkirtFinish the base of the bow tree with a plush velvet skirt.